Electronic sound producing walking cane



INVENTOR C. DAMATO March 25, 1969 ELECTRONIC SOUND PRODUCING WALKING CANE Filed Oct. 14, 1955 Sheet a of 4 March 25, 1969 c. DAMATO ELECTRONIC SOUND PRODUCNG WALKING CANE Filed om. 14, 1955 INVENTOR C ad E7/'mara @,m/: QM?, Anm/vaya March 25, 1969 C. D-AMATO 3,435,153

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INVENTOR United States Patent Otice 3,435,153 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 3,435,153 ELECTRONIC SOUNDlgDUCING WALKING This invention concerns an electronic sound producing walking cane. The invention has a principal object provision of a device which can be used for amusement as a toy, but which can also be used as a portable sound recording and reproducing device, as an electronic hearing aid, and for allied purposes.

In one form of the invention, the device includes a hollow walking cane with a handle at one end in which is an amplifier and loudspeaker. At the other end of the cane is a cylindrical roller which is pulled or Ipushed along the ground to rotate the roller. Inside the roller is a removable and replaceable phonograph record with a spiral groove which is tracked by phonograph pickup. As the record rotates with the roller audio signals are transmitted via wires in the cane to the amplifier, and are reproduced by the loudspeaker. The phonograph record may have music, speech or other sounds recorded thereon.

In another form of the invention, the hollow cane has a magnetic sound recording and reproducing apparatus driven by an electric motor. In -a further form of the invention the cane contains magnetic sound recording and reproducing apparatus driven by a spring powered clock motor.Y

For further comprehension of the invention, and lof the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention, with part of the roller broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1, showing details of the roller and parts therein.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the cane portion of the device of FIG. 1, showing details of the parts therein.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary `sectional view of the roller showing details of the phonograph pickup.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the electrical circuit employed in the device of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another device embodying the invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIG. 6, parts being broken away.

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a further enlarged perspective View of parts of the sound recording and reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the electrical circuit employed in the device of FIGS. 6-9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another device embodying the invention.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 12-12 `of FIG. l1.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of parts of the sound recording and reproducing apparatus employed in the device of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a reduced perspective view of the device shown in use as for sound recording.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an electrical circuit employed in the device of FIGS. 11-14.

Referring first to FIGS. 14, there is shown a sound producing device 20 including an elongated tubular cane 22 having a curved hooklike handle 24 at one end. The cane has a generally triangular enlargement at its upper end adjacent to the handle, which enlargement defines a housing 25. In this housing is a loudspeaker 26 which projects sound upwardly through an opening 27 formed in the inclined upper side 28 of the housing. A mesh screen 29 is filled in opening 27. Disposed below the loudspeaker and connected thereto is a transistor arnplifier 32; and below this amplifier is a battery 34. An electric cable 36 is connected to the amplifier 32 and extends `down the hollow cane 22 to its bottom end.

The bottom end of the cane is formed with a laterally extending tubular arm 40 having an annular radial flange 42. To this flange is secured a dished plate 44. The plate has a cylindrical rim 45 which is concentric with the cylindrical wall 46 of a roller 50. The roller has a circular end wall 52 disposed parallel to plate 44. A bearing sleeve 54 extends axially inwardly of wall 52. A shaft 55 extends through sleeve 54. The shaft has a hollow end portion 56 with an annular radial flange 57 at its end secured to the inner side of wall plate 44. Screws 57 and nuts 58 secure the flanges 42 and 57 to opposite sides of plate 44. Cable 36 extends into roller 50 through a hole in shaft portion 56.

Plate 44 supports an arcuate tone arm 60 at one end of which is a phonograph pickup cartridge 62 having a needle 64 projecting away from plate 44. The needle is secured in place Iby a screw 66. At its other end the tone arm is pivotally mounted by posts 68 to the plate 44 at a point spaced from its center. A coil spring 70 is connected between the outer convex side of the tone arm and inner concave side of plate rim 45. A set of ball bearings 72 is fitted to the outer side of the tone arm, and the ball hearings roll along the inner side of plate 44. Cable 36 is connected to cartridge 62.

Sleeve 54 is freely rotatable on shaft 55 which is held stationary by plate 44 mounted nonrotatably to cane 22. A turntable 75 is provided inside the roller. This turntable has a cylindrical bushing which engages on the sleeve 54 so that the turntable is fixed with respect to the sleeve and roller but is rotatable with respect to the shaft 55. A phonograph record disk having spiral grooves 82 on opposite Sides is abutted to the turntable and rotates with the turntable on shaft 55. A washer 84 is disposed on the shaft at a shoulder 85 formed at an intermediate point. This washer permits the t-urntable and disk 80` to rotate freely with respect to the sha-ft. A nut 86 is applied to the outer threaded end of shaft 55 and holds the roller turntable and record disk rotatably on the shaft. When the nut 86 is removed the roller can be removed from the shaft to reverse the record disk or to replace it with another one.

FIG. 5 shows the electric circuit 90 of the device. This circuit includes phonograph pickup cartridge 62 connected to the input of amplifier 32. The output of the amplifier is connected to loudspeaker 26. Battery 34 is connected to the amplifier to energize the same. In series with the battery is an ON-OFF switch 94. The switch is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 mounted on the rear side of housing 25. On its forward side the housing has a hinged door which provides access to the interior of the casing ffor replacing the battery when necessary and for other servicing of the internal parts.

Operation of the device is simple and automatic. An operator grasps the handle 24 and holds the cane in a downwardly inclined position, with the roller resting on the ground. As the roller 50 is rolled along the ground the needle 64 tracks groove 82 of the record 80. Audio signals are picked up by the cartridge 62 and transmitted for amplification 4to the amplifier 32. The sound is reproduced by loudspeaker 26. Switch 94 is closed to energize the amplifier and is opened to deenergize the amplifier and conserve the battery.

The `device can serve as a toy or amusement device. Device 20a shown in FIGS. 6-9 embodies another form of the invention. In this device, the cane 22a has a handle 24a. Inside the housing 25a at the upper end of the cane is a loudspeaker-microphone 26a. To the extent described the device is substantially identical to device 20. In the device 20a there is provided a magnetic sound recording and reproducing assembly 100 including a drum 102 on which is a magnetic coating 104. The drurn is axially vertical and has a supporting shaft 106. The upper end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing 108 supported on a bracket 110 extending inwardly from rear wall 112 of the housing a. The lower end of the shaft is coupled to :an electric motor 114 mounted on a bracket 115 inside the cane at the lower end of housing 25a. A gear 116 is secured on shaft 106 and engages a gear 117 mounted at the lower end of a screw shaft 120. The screw shaft is journaled to rotate on bracket 110 and on the lower end of a bracket 122 depending from bracket 110. Mounted on the screw shaft is a carriage 125 which moves up and down parallel to the drum as the screw shaft rotates. The carriage is guided and prevented from rotation by bracket 122. Carriage 125 carries magnetic heads 126, 128 spaced apart axially of the drum. Head 126 serves as an erase head to erase signals recorded in a spiral track T on the drum. Head 128 serves to record signals magnetically on the drum and to pick up signals from the drum.

Located in the cane is a transistor amplifier 130 and an electrical oscillator 132. Below the oscillator are batteries 134. The bottom end of the cane is closed by a screw cap 136. A spring 138 under the batteries urges the batteries upward into series circuit contact with each other. The batteries are inserted in the cane through the bottom end of the cane.

The housing 25a has an ON-OFF switch 140' and a RECORD-PLAYBACK switch 142 on its rear side. Access door 144 is pivotally mounted on the front side of the housing. A REWIND pushbutton switch 145 is located on one side of housing 25a.

FIG. l() shows the electrical circuit arrangement 150 of the device 20a. Batteries 34 are connected at one end in series with the ON-OFF switch 140 to one terminal of each of oscillator 132, amplifier 130 and motor 114. The other end of the batteries is connected to amplifier 130. The circuit includes the two position RECORD-PLAY- BACK SWITCH 142 which has six ganged poles P1-P6 and six pairs of contacts C1-C12. In the RECORD position the poles P1-P6 Contact the contacts C2, C4, C6, C8, C10 and C12, respectively. In the'PLAYBACK position the poles contact the contacts C1, C3, C5, C7, C9 and C11, respectively. Contact C1 is connected to the RECORD- PLAYBACK head 128 along with contact C6. Contact C2 and contact C5 are connected to one terminal of loudspeaker-microphone 26a. Contacts C4 and C7 are connected to the other terminal of the loudspeaker-microphone. Contacts C3 and C8 are connected to head 128. Contact C9 is open. Contact C10 is connected to oscillator 132 which activates head 126. Contacts C11 and C12 are connected to one terminal T1 of the motor.

Pole P1 is connected to one input terminal of the amplifier 130. Pole P2 is connected to the other input terminal of the amplifier. Poles P3 and P4 are connected to the output of the amplifier. Poles P5 and P6 are connected to the batteries.

REWIND SWITCH 145 is a pushbutton reversing switch for reversing motor 114. Switch 145 has two pairs of contacts C13-C16 and two shorting bars B1 and B2. Contact C13 is connected to the batteries and to pole P6. Contact C14 is connected to switch 140. Contact C15 is connected to terminal T1 of the motor and contact C16 is connected to the batteries.

In operation of device 20a and circuit 150, the motor will run in one direction when the switch 142 is in either of its two positions while switch 140 is closed. When switch 140 is open and switch 145 is 'held closed the motor will be reversed. In the one direction of rotation of the motor, carriage moves in one direction preferably upward and the carriage moves down when the motor is reversed. In the RECORD position of the switch 145, the loudspeaker-microphone serves as a microphone to apply audio signals via amplifier to head 128 which records these signals magnetically on the magnetic drum coating 104. At the same time the erase |head 1216 which is then connected to the amplifier output is energized to erase previously recorded signals. In the PLAYBACK position of switch 145, as shown in FIG. 10, head 126 is connected to the amplifier input to pick up recorded signals from the drum and apply them via the amplifier to the loudspeaker-microphone which then serves as a loudspeaker to reproduce the signals audibly. The device 20a thus constitutes a convenient portable walking stick sound recorder-reproducer. 'Ilhe cane may serve as a boom to extend the loudspeaker-microphone end into hard to reach places for picking up sounds. The cane can be carried inconspicuously while one is Walking to pick up street sounds, record conversations and the like.

In FIGS. 11-14 is shown another sound recording and reproducing device 20b. In this device, cane 22b has two sections 22b and 22b. Loudspeaker 26b is located in housing 25b at the upper end of cane section 22b'. Micro- Iphone is located at the lower end of cane section 22b". This section has an apertured screw cap 162. Inside the cane extension is a coil spring Which normally holds cane section 22b' extended upwardly out of the cane section 22b. The spring 165 bears on the top of the microphone casing and against a radial flange 166 at the lower end of cane section 22b. In housing 25Ib is an assembly 170 including an amplifier, oscillator 4and battery and an associated magnetic tape recording and -reproducing apparatus 172. Below the apparatus 172 is a spring powered clock motor 175.

This motor is one of a well known conventional type with a winding gear which turns ratchet wheel 182 to which spring 184 is attached. The spring drives a gear 185 engaged with an escapement gear 186 controlled by escapement lever 18S. Gear 186 drives an endless belt 187 entrained on pulleys 189, 190. A reel 192 is removably mounted on a shaft 194 carrying pulley 190. Another pulley on shaft 194 engages and drives another endless belt 196 entrained on a pulley 198 spaced from pulley 190. Reel 200 is removably mounted on shaft 202 carrying pulley 198. A handle 203 is attached to shaft 202 for manually reversing magnetic tape 204 Wound on the reels 192 and 200. This handle is accessible just inside door 205 on the side of housing 25b. The tape 204 has a straight course 204 which extends past erase lead 126' vand RECORD-PLAYBACK head 128' carried by assembly 170. The tape course 204 is supported by idler rollers 206, 208.

In order to wind the spring motor, there is provided a rack gear 210 mounted on the top of the microphone casing in cane section 22b" and extending upwardly through cane section 22b'. This rack gear is engaged with gear 180. When the upper cane section 22b' is pushed axially downward the gear 180 is turned by the rack gear and the spring 184 is wound up. The spring unwinds under control of the escapement lever 188 to drive the tape 204 at a constant speed. Rewind of the tape is accomplished by manually turning crank 203. Belt 187 may slip on pulley 189 while the tape is being rewound.

FIG. 15 shows circuit 205 employed in device 20b. This circuit has ON-OFF switch 140' connected in series with battery 34'. The RECORD-PLAYBACK switch 145' has iive ganged poles P1-P5 and five pairs of contacts C1'-C10'. Switches 140 land 145 are mounted at the yfront of the housing 25b as shown in FIGS. 11 and 14.

Contacts C1 and C6 are connected to head 128. Contact C2' is connected to microphone 1-60. Contacts C3 and C8 are connected to head 128'. Contacts C4' and C6 are connected to head 128. Contact C7 is connected to loudspeaker 26b. Contact C9' is open. Contact C10 is connected to oscillator 132 which energizes the erase head 126'. Switch 140' is connected to power supply circuits of the amplifier and oscillator. Pole P1 and pole P2 are connected to the signal input terminals of ampli- -fier 130. Poles P3 and P4 are connected to the output terminals of the amplifier. Pole P5 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery which is also connected to the amplifier.

In operation of the device 2Gb and circuit 250, microphone 160 picks up sound signals as indicated in FIG. 14, when it is held at a sound source. These audio signals are applied to amplifier 130 when switch 142 is in RECORD position as shown in FIG. 15. The amplifier applies amplified signals to head 128' for recording on tape 204 which is then being driven by clock motor 175. Simultaneously tape erase head 126 is set to PLAYBACK POSITION, the oscillator 132' is deactivated and the erase head 126 is deenergized. The microphone is disconnected from the amplifier and instead head 128' is connected to the amplifier input while the loudspeaker 26b is connected to the amplifier output. The recorded signals are reproduced from the tape 204.

The clock motor 175 is rewound by pushing down the cane section 22h while the section 22b" rests on the ground as indicated in FIG. 12. The device 201; provides a convenient means of picking up sound and recording the same as shown in FIG. 14. The device can conveniently be held in the hand H by handle 2411 or on a persons arm while sound is being recorded or reproduced.

In all forms of the invention described, a cane or walking stick serves as the enclosure for sound recording and/ or sound reproducing apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising an elongated tubular cane, a handle at one end of the cane, said cane having an enlargement as said one end adjacent the handle defining a housing, a loudspeaker in the housing, an amplifier in the cane connected in a circuit with said loudspeaker, a sound record carried by the cane, and transducer means connected to said amplifier and disposed for picking up recorded signals from said record and conveying the signals to said amplifier for audible reproduction by said loudspeaker, said sound record being a magnetized tape, a spring powered clock motor arranged to drive said tape in one direction, said transducer means being a magnetic head disposed at said tape to pickup magnetically recorded signals therefrom, said cane having two telescoped sections, and gear means carried by one of the cane sections and operatively interconnected With said clock motor for winding said spring when the other cane section is advanced axially into the first cane section,

2. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microphone located at the other end of the cane in said one cane section, and switch means interconnecting said microphone, loudspeaker, amplifier and magnetic head for selectively connecting said microphone and magnetic head to the input of the amplifier in one position of the opposite terminals respectively of the amplifier in one position of the switch for magnetically recording audio signals on said tape, and for connecting said magnetic head and loudspeaker to the opposite terminals respectively of the amplifier for reproducing the recorded audio signals from said tape.

3. A- device as recited in claim 2, further comprising an erase head in said housing, and an oscillator connected via said switch means to said power supply, said oscillator being connected to the erase head for erasing previously recorded signals from said tape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,283,791 11/1918 Kaliski 274-1 X 1,484,965 2/1924 Ritter 46-114 2,504,042 4/ 1950 Ottofy 46-111 BERNARD KONICK, Primary Examiner.

RAYMOND F. CARDILLO, JR., Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R, 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR CANE, A HANDLE AT ONE END OF THE CANE, SAID CANE HAVING AN ENLARGEMENT AS SAID ONE END ADJACENT THE HANDLE DEFINING A HOUSING, A LOUDSPEAKER IN THE HOUSING, AN AMPLIFIER IN THE CANE CONNECTED IN A CIRCUIT WITH SAID LOUDSPEAKER, A SOUND RECORD CARRIED BY THE CANE, AND TRANSDUCER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID AMPLIFIER AND DISPOSED FOR PICKING UP RECORDED SIGNALS FROM SAID RECORD AND CONVEYING THE SIGNALS TO SAID AMPLIFIER FOR AUDIBLE REPRODUCTION BY SAID LOUDSPEAKER, SAID SOUND RECORD BEING A MAGNETIZED TAPE, A SPRING POWERED CLOCK MOTOR ARRANGED TO DRIVE SAID TAPE IN ONE DIRECTION, SAID TRANSDUCER MEANS BEING A MAGNETIC HEAD DISPOSED AT SAID TAPE TO PICKUP MAGNETICALLY RECORDED SIGNALS THEREFROM, SAID CANE HAVING TWO TELESCOPED SECTIONS, AND GEAR MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF THE CANE SECTIONS AND OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID CLOCK MOTOR FOR WINDING SAID SPRING WHEN THE OTHER CANE SECTION IS ADVANCED AXIALLY INTO THE FIRST CANE SECTION. 